SOLD LISTINGS

Imagine a pristine luxury single story home with a large private lot nestled in the rolling hills of South Pleasanton. Imagine expansive 10-foot ceilings and a flexible open floor plan designed for modern living. Imagine a state of the art granite kitchen with island. Imagine relaxing in your in-ground spa and enjoying your private Tuscan-inspired yard. Welcome Home!

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SOLD LISTINGS

Imagine a fabulous Stoneridge area home in a premium location. Imagine a fabulous open floor plan designed for modern living. Imagine a newly updated interior with designer updates throughout. Imagine an updated quartz kitchen and newly remodeled bathrooms. Imagine a private yard with pool and large patio area for entertaining. Imagine walking to parks and schools. Welcome Home!

Hey everybody, it’s Doug Buenz with the 680 Group here in Pleasanton, California, coming to you with a market update for Pleasanton here in 2018. As always, if you know someone who would find this information valuable, please do share it with them or send them a link, I’d really appreciate it.

Pleasanton, there are three words to describe the market right now, hot, hot, hot! If there’s any slow down as a result of rising interest rates or uncertainty around the tax law, we’re certainly not seeing it now. If we take a look at the Pleasanton market month to date, there are eight new listings under $1 million, not much, it’s hard to find single family homes under $1 million in Pleasanton. There are eight new listings, which is down slightly from January, there are six pending, which is exactly the same as it was last month this time. The average sales price is $639 a square foot, that’s up 16%, that’s for closed properties here, month to date in February. Six days on the market is the average days on market for sold properties so far in February, and that’s down 25%, so shorter time on the market. And, on average, the homes sold for 105% of their asking price, so we’re seeing over bids in that market that’s under $1 million here in Pleasanton.

If we look at the $1 million to $2 million market, that’s really where the action is. We have 32 new listings this month to date, that’s up 113% from January. So lots of new inventory. We have 24 pending sales so far this month, that’s up 380% from January, that’s huge, a lot of pent up demand in that price bracket. The prices per square foot for sold properties so far this month is $574 a square foot, that’s up 3.2%, not surprising, five days on the market on average for the sold properties, and that’s down 68%, so homes are selling faster and usually over the asking price. Why? Because the sales price to list price ratio for closed homes so far this month is 104% on average, that’s up 3%. Multiple offers, strong demand.

Over $2,000,000 market, little different story. We have four new listings so far this month, that’s up 33% from January. One pending sale, which is exactly what it was in January to date, and no closed sales so far this month.

So in a nutshell, more inventory, strong demand, strong competition for most properties, so if you’re a seller, it remains an excellent time to sell your house. If you’re a buyer, we are seeing more inventory, so be locked and loaded, and you’ll have a good shot at getting a house. As always, if we can help you, please give us a call at 925-621-0680, or see us at 680homes.com, thanks so much.

Home buyers consider hundreds of factors before making the decision to buy. These typically include the location of the house, the interior features, the size of the lot, the school district, and the nearby amenities.

This is perfectly understandable since buying a home is much more than just making a purchase, it’s a major investment. Buyers in the market for Pleasanton CA real estate are just trying to get the most bang for their buck.

Every home buyer has a unique set of wants for a house. However, they know that they will never find a home that ticks off everything in their wish-list, so they’re willing to settle for a house that grants most of their wishes.

If you want to get ahead of the competition, you need to be aware of what homebuyers are looking for. There are some home features common to many buyers’ checklists. Here is a list that will show you what home buyers want when shopping around for prospective property.

#1 Hardwood Floors

According to the National Association of Home Builders, today’s homebuyers are looking for hardwood floors. Hardwood is one of the oldest flooring materials there is, and it never goes out of style.

Hardwood flooring can make any home look elegant. Plus, it’s easier to maintain and is more durable than carpet, which needs to be replaced every eight to 10 years.

They are also much more resistant to spills and stains. Hardwood can be refinished periodically and last a lifetime.

Moreover, hardwood doesn’t hide harmful particulate matter, making for a healthier, safer living environment, especially for those who suffer from allergies.

Hardwood floors are worth every penny you invest in them. In fact, many homeowners attest that the money they spend fixing their floors before selling the home usually give 100% return on investment.

#2 Laundry Room

Do you know which feature topped the National Association of Home Builder’s list of most wanted home features for buyers of all ages? Buyers from across all ages- from millennials to seniors- prefer a home with a separate laundry room.

The average American spends more than eight hours a week doing laundry. It makes sense to have one room dedicated to the job.

Today’s home buyers are looking for a light and airy laundry room with plenty of storage, counter space for folding clothes, and perhaps a utility sink. Having a laundry room is a huge benefit as it helps keep the mess out of the rest of the home.

#3 Plenty of Storage

A family can amass many personal possessions over the year, and it can be easy for those items to create clutter in a home. Home buyers prefer a home that has ample storage to keep the open spaces clutter-free. A smart storage solution is the key to having a neat and beautiful home.

Built-in storage – including linen closets, wardrobes, and even walk-in kitchen pantries – are now a must to attract home buyers. Custom closet systems and well-designed walk-ins are considered major selling points.

I can’t stress enough how important storage space is. Homeowners who make improvements to create storage space are often rewarded with higher house values.

#4 Exterior Lighting

Exterior lighting is as important as interior lighting. According to NAHB, it is one of the most wanted outdoor features in a home.

Lighting up a well-maintained lawn can help grab buyers’ attention before they even set foot in the front door. A well-lit home showcases its aesthetic and creates a warm, welcoming, and safe atmosphere.

Outdoor lighting can have a big impact on the overall look of your garden and patio, making it important to pay attention to where you set the lights, and to what kind of lighting you use to light up the yard.

Aesthetics aside, exterior lighting can serve as an added safety feature for the home. For example, motion-sensor lights turn on automatically whenever there is movement outside the house.

#5 Outdoor Living Spaces

A beautifully designed outdoor living space can set your house apart from other homes for sale in Pleasanton. It also increases the functional square footage of your home.

Outdoor living spaces have also become incredibly appealing to home buyers who are in the market for a new home. A National Association of Realtors survey shows more than half of surveyed buyers would pay a premium for a home with an with a well-done outdoor living area. These outdoor spaces can include anything from landscaped decks and patios, to covered outdoor living rooms, kitchens, or bars.

Today’s homebuyers are looking for ways to incorporate the outdoors into their daily lives. French doors leading to a large patio encourage flow and create a feeling of harmony between the interior and exterior of a home.

#6 Energy Efficiency

With home utility bills consuming an ever-greater share of the family budget, it isn’t surprising then that more home buyers are placing energy efficiency at the top of their wish list.

Energy costs can make up a significant portion of the recurring monthly expenses. With energy efficient appliances and home upgrades, homeowners can save anywhere from 5% to 30% on utility bills.

In the real estate market, an energy efficient home usually sells for a higher price when compared with other homes. Investing a little money to increase your home’s energy efficiency also increases your home’s final selling price.

If your budget permits it, you can consider some or all of the above suggestions. However, you don’t have to break the bank in order to get your home ready to sell. My team and I will definitely have some suggestions on how to make your home more appealing to buyers.

If you’re looking for a REALTOR® who is knowledgeable about these features and understands the inner workings of the benefits of these features, call me, Doug Buenz, at (925) 621-0680 today.

In case you can not view this video here, please click the link below to view 🏡What Features Will Help Sell Your Pleasanton CA Home Fast on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/Q0vUe35tZys

SOLD LISTINGS

So you want to sell your home, but you’re feeling overwhelmed?

There is much more to selling a home than simply placing a ‘for sale’ sign in your yard – it’s a daunting process! It’s a time-consuming process that can be quite stressful.

Without any experience and a complex, emotional transaction on one’s hands, it’s easy for home sellers to make lots of costly mistakes.

Being prepared before putting your home on the market is key to a relatively smooth process.

In this article, I will share with you tips and strategies that can help you sell your Pleasanton CA home like a pro.

Here is an eight-step guide to break it down, and walk you through the basics of how to sell your home.

STEP 1: Determine your motivation for selling

It’s important to know what your motivation is when you’re considering selling your home.

You don’t just wake up one day and decide to move house. Everybody has a reason to sell, so you should explore your reasons for selling.

Here are some of the top reasons why people sell their homes:

Home has become too small

It’s time to upgrade

Job Transfer

Personal Relationship

Neighborhood Changes

Downsizing

Retirement

Lifestyle Changes

There are two crucial questions you need to answer before you put your Pleasanton CA home on the market:

Why do you want to sell your home?

How soon would you like your move to happen?

Your answer to these two questions will affect how you price your home. It will also determine how much effort you will put into making your home presentable.

If your reason is not valid, you would later regret selling your home.

Remember that selling a house is a challenging task. However, it will be easier to plan out your home selling strategy if you know your motivation for selling.

STEP 2: Enlist the services of a qualified real estate agent

According to the National Association of Realtor®’s 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the average FSBO sales price was $185,000, while the average price for a home represented by an agent was $245,000. That’s a difference of $60,000!

While you can try to sell your home on your own to save money on commission, hiring an agent definitely brings more advantages.

One of the most important decisions you’ll make when you put your Pleasanton home up for sale is choosing the right agent to help you in the selling process.

With so many agents, it can be confusing to know which one to choose. Here are some things to consider when looking for an agent:

Your home is your biggest investment and you would want to work with someone who is not just good, but great.

The right agent can make all the difference in how quickly and efficiently you can sell your home.

Choosing the right Pleasanton real estate agent can take some legwork, but when you get the right one, like me, your real estate journey will be great and stress-free.

Get in touch with me or any of my 680group Pleasanton CA real estate agents today and make one of the best decisions of your life.

STEP 3: Learn your home’s market value

Have you ever wondered, “What is my home worth?”

Your home’s value or its market value is how much your property would sell for under normal conditions. It has nothing to do with your mortgage statement or how many special memories you’ve created there.

Knowing your home’s market value will help you set the right asking price.

So how do you know for sure what your home is worth?

One good starting point to figure out what your home is worth is to enter your address on websites that will instantly price your home based on data such as square footage and recent home sales in the area. These estimates are automatically generated based on public information. However, your home’s unique features and overall condition will not be included in the equation.

As such, there is still no substitute for the expertise of a real estate agent who has access to a vast database of information to help you determine your home’s value. A professional agent has the experience and skills to assess how much your home is worth.

Agents like me deal with Pleasanton CA homes and properties on a daily basis which makes us very familiar with home prices and how locations factor in. We also have tools like the MLS that can help us identify the average price in your area. We also consider the upgrades you did in your home.

We specialize in answering the question, “What is my home worth?” by running a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). This process involves finding similar properties that had been sold within the past 90 days.

Watch the video below and learn how a CMA can help sell your home:

STEP 4: Determine your selling price

When selling a house, pricing it correctly is one of the most important steps.

Picking the right price tag for your home can be tricky. For one, it’s your home, filled with memories, hopes, and dreams. All that can affect your decisions and lead you toward the wrong price.

There are consequences.

If you price your home too high, there will be few potential buyers, with little chance of any offers to pay your unrealistic price. After the first two to three weeks of showing, you will lose the freshness of the home’s appeal and interest will wane.

If you price your home too low, you may get many offers, but you could lose thousands on one of your largest investments.

That’s why I’m here to guide you through this tough but critical decision. I understand that arriving at an accurate asking price involves up-to-the-minute research and experienced judgment.

When setting the price for your home, several factors usually come into play. However, as a general rule, sale prices are based on:

How much similar properties have recently sold for in the same area

The supply and demand of your area, based on the local economy

A fair market value of the home, based on an appraisal

Your needs as the seller

As a Pleasanton CA real estate agent, I know the pricing strategies that work in the current market. We will discuss the price regularly, as well as the other factors that can change the conditions in order to get the best price for your home.

STEP 5: Make small upgrades

To get the best price for your home, you need to take some time to get it ready to sell.

While you may need to tackle some basic repair issues first, there are simpler improvements that can help polish up your home and set the tone for a quicker sale.

Critically examine your space to determine what needs to be updated, cleared out, or spruced up. Many times there are simple upgrades that will make all the difference.

Remove Outdated Window Treatments

If you have dreary draperies, torn window shades, or bent mini-blinds, remove these outdated items and replace them with simple white mini-blinds or wood blinds cut-to-measure at a home center. This simple fix can refresh your rooms in just one weekend.

Showcase your Wood Flooring

Buyers get easily turned off by worn, dirty, or badly colored carpeting. However, this is easy to fix if you have hardwood floors. Remove the carpet and expose the wood so that buyers will be able to see the look and the patina of the hardwood flooring.

Should you decide to keep your carpet, at the very least make sure to clean it thoroughly before buyers come knocking on your door.

Update the lighting

The lighting of your home is a very important component of its atmosphere. Before putting your home on the market, take time to look over your lighting.

Is it dated? Does it serve the space poorly?

You can find relatively inexpensive light fixtures which can make your home look new and stylish in no time. Don’t forget to replace any expired light bulbs, and check exterior lights as well as interior ones.

STEP 6: Amp up the curb appeal

When it comes to selling your home, first impressions make a difference. Your home must look attractive to potential buyers even before they take one step inside.

You want your property to have a wow factor!

A home with great curb appeal will sell faster and for more money because of the positive effect it has on buyers.

Unfortunately, some sellers tend to overlook their home’s curb appeal when putting it on the market.

That is a huge mistake!

If you don’t put effort into boosting your home’s curb appeal, it can cost you the sale and drive down the perceived value of your home.

Here are some reasons why curb appeal is an important factor in selling your home:

STEP 7: Hire a professional to stage and photograph your home

As a typical buyer looks at an online listing, the first thing he or she does is to look at the photos. Online listings with bad pictures or no pictures at all can cause buyers to overlook a home.

You want to create an amazing first impression of your property. You can do that by making sure your home shows well on online listings. Studies show that homes with more than six listing photos online are twice as likely to be viewed by buyers.

To ensure that the pictures portray your house in the best way possible, you must tap into the talents of professional stager and photographer. Staging the property for professional shoot is also a very important part to get the best shots of the house.

The goal of home staging is to help home buyers emotionally connect with your home. Buyers’ realtors reported that 81% of their clients felt that staging helped them to imagine the property they were viewing as a future home (National Association of Realtors, “2015 Profile of Home Staging”).

The following are the most important rooms to be staged:

Of course, after staging your home, you need a professional photographer with extensive knowledge and experience in photographing homes to highlight the beauty of your Pleasanton CA home.

Listing photos captured by a professional photographer always attract more potential buyers because the professional photographer produces images that resonates with the buyers.

Quality real estate photography helps to motivate home buyers to see the house in person. Remember to make your property easy to show. Be flexible about your schedule so that more people will be able to see your home.

STEP 8: Review each offer and close the deal

You’ve received offers – hooray!

You need to review each offer carefully to be able to pick the right one to accept. Here’s a plan for evaluating offers:

Know the process.

You have three options when you receive an offer. First, you can accept the offer – this means that, subject to the conditions of the sale, your home is officially sold. Second, you can reject the offer. Or third, you can counter the offer.

Decide which terms are most important to you.

Before showing your home, we should discuss your baselines. For example, if price is of utmost important, you may need to be flexible on your closing date.

Establish an offer review process

As your agent, we will establish a review process. This includes setting a time frame during which buyers must submit offers. Doing so will give us ample time to market your home. This will also give us the time to review all the offers you receive.

Review every term

Evaluate all the terms of each offer. Determine the strengths and the drawbacks.

With each term, ask yourself: is this a deal breaker, or can I compromise to achieve my goal of closing the sale?

Once you’ve found a buyer and agreed to a sale price, now it’s time to close the deal.

There are several procedures that must take place in order to complete the sale of your home. These include:

A home inspection where an inspector will do a thorough examination of the physical structure and systems of your home

A title search to verify you really own the property and there are no other claims to it

A property survey, which shows the boundaries of your home and includes a written description of your property

A final walk through where the buyer is allowed to inspect the home within 24 hours prior to closing

Disclosing to the buyer anything that may interfere with their decision to purchase the home

During the closing, the deed is delivered to the buyer, the title is transferred, financing documents and title insurance policies are exchanged, and the agreed-on costs are paid.

As your agent, I will take care of all the time consuming details and issues on your behalf.

Once done, you’ll relinquish your keys and the legal rights to your property in exchange for the balance of payment from the buyer.

Congratulations, you have sold your home!

Learning how to sell a home will take some time, but with the help of a trusted professional like me, we can make it happen!

Your Pleasanton CA home is a valuable asset. You deserve to get the most out of your investment!

Let me be of service to you!

I am Doug Buenz, your top real estate agent from Pleasanton CA, and with my help, we can successfully sell your home! Call me at (925) 621-0680 to get started.

About to hire a Realtor®? Read this first.

Putting your most significant investment for sale can be a daunting experience. It can be confusing and scary, especially for first-time home sellers. It’s a good thing there are many professionals you can turn to for help.

A Realtor® guides, assists, and takes the heavy load off your shoulder. He or she can make the home-selling process a smooth journey. You can also get a better deal in selling your Pleasanton home with the help of a competent Realtor®.

He or she is also the best person to turn to when you have any listing questions, which I am sure you’ll have many along the process. Asking questions will help you better understand the process, so you’ll know what to do on your second rodeo.

To know who to hire, here are 10 essential questions you should ask any Realtor® you interview.

1. How much is my home worth? The first thing you want to learn from the agent is how much he valuated your home for. The answer to this question is essential because it will become your home’s listing price. We all know how important it is to get the listing price right. If your home is overpriced, you will have a hard time selling it.

2. How did you come up with my list price? A great follow up question to the first one is an explanation of how the agent came up with the value. Agents have different tools at their disposal.

The agents should explain and give you a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) which contains a list of comparable homes in your area. From the get-go, it should be clear to you how your home was valued.

3. Is it the best time to sell my home? The agent’s market knowledge should tell him or her if it is an excellent time to sell your home. As the seller, knowing what kind of market is currently prevailing in your area is helpful.

If it is a seller’s market, you should know that you can increase the price of your home for up to 10% and know it will still sell because there is a scarcity of homes for sale. If it happened to be a buyer’s market, you should drop your home price, because there are more homes for sale than buyers.

4. How do you plan to market my home? It is your right as the home seller to know how the agent plans to market your home. You want an agent who has a good solid plan. He or she should use the different marketing techniques available to get your listing to a larger audience.

A great follow up question to this is if the agent uses social media as a marketing tool. Most home buyers first check online, so getting your home listed online can help buyers find your home.

5. What should I do to sell my home successfully? You want an agent who willingly provides helpful suggestions so you can sell your home successfully.

6. Should I stage my home or sell it empty? You want to get the top dollar for your home, so having an agent who can help you get a better deal for your pocket is preferable.

7. Do I need an open house? An open house is a hot topic among agents and Realtors®. You want someone who can explain why you need an open house.

8. Do I need a home inspection? Most agents will recommend a home inspection. It helps you know if there are areas or spots in your home that should be repaired so you can sell your home at an optimum price.

9. What are seller’s closing costs? Ask your Realtor® what the closings costs are so you can know how much to prepare at the closing.

10. How will you keep me informed? Communication is essential when you are selling a home. You want to be updated on how your home is being marketed, of buyers interested in your home, of any concerns that may arise during the selling process. This is a topic that should be clearly established so that there will be no bad feelings at the end of the deal.

Be a proactive seller. Ask questions. The Realtor®’s reaction and explanations should help you understand the selling process better. More importantly, it should tell you how the Realtor® reacts when faced with challenges.

Do you have any other questions? Call me, Doug Buenz at (925)621-0680. Let me help you get the best deal for your home.

In case you cannot view this video here, please click the link below to view Ten Essential Questions to Ask Your Realtor® in

Doug Buenz and The 680 Group is a full service real estate team specializing in real estate and homes for sale in Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon, Livermore, Danville, Alamo, and Blackhawk. Our uncommon attention to our clients has made us one of the top producing teams in the Tri-Valley area of the East Bay